Tuk Tuk Chicken & Rice — Restaurant in San Jose

I chose this place because my go-to Thai restaurants were closed, so I was hoping for a good alternative. While Tuk Tuk Chicken & Rice has some hits like the basil chicken and salt and pepper wings, the Pad Thai needs some work.

The basil chicken is super tasty. The chicken is tender and cooked with fresh basil, bell peppers, and onions in a yummy sauce. The basil gives it a nice aroma and a bit of a spicy kick. It's a great dish that's both filling and delicious.

The S & P Chicken Wings are a must-try! The salt and pepper seasoning is just right, giving the wings a crispy and flavorful coating. They're fried perfectly, so you get a nice crunch with every bite. Perfect for sharing or enjoying on your own.

The Pad Thai with chicken was a bit of a letdown. It came with thin slices of breaded chicken, similar to tonkatsu, which was interesting but not what you'd expect in traditional Pad Thai. Plus, it was missing bean sprouts, green onions, peanuts, and that tangy tamarind flavor. To top it off, the noodles were burnt, which really took away from the dish.

We've traveled to Thailand twice and have been enjoying Thai cuisine since the 80's so we've experienced traditional Thai food.

The decor is not your typical Thai restaurant style. One wall is covered with pictures and ads of JDM cars, and another wall is filled with Hot Wheels still in their packages. It's a unique and fun atmosphere that adds a bit of character to the place.

Overall, Tuk Tuk Chicken & Rice has a cozy vibe and friendly staff, making it a decent spot for a casual meal, but there are definitely areas for...

We ordered Penang curry with Chicken Basil Chicken with chicken rice Pad Thai with tofu

The curry was delicious and spicier than the Panang Beef I usually have, this version is less sweet than all others I've had, could be a regional variation, maybe more peanut than others? The chicken is by far the most tender and moist chicken of any restaurant where I've had this kind of dish where the meat is added after the sauce is already made. You probably have experienced this before. Still delicious.

Basil Chicken was also a hit, far more savory than others I've had, probably my favorite version. Rich and savory, hard to explain.

Pad Thai was also a good, again a deeper, more savory flavor than the typical sweet and saucy versions, whether it needs more tamarind may be a matter of preference. The fried tofu they used was the best of any Thai place we've had it at. Most of the time you get overly fried tofu with mostly tofu skin and a hollow inside. This place sears it well but it is tender and juicy inside.

We loved the food but the only thing that made me uncomfortable the entire time was the profanity laced rap and hip hop that was being played. I didn't raise any of my children to normalize that kind of language and I never play it around my child. While I would use it in private with my friends, it's not something I use even with high school kids I coach, it's about setting a standard.

The alone would make me hesitate returning if my youngest is with me, but the...

Came here with a happy face, excited trying new place and tried to order the food, but whenever I pronounced the words wrong, like “pad Thai” or “laab style”, the front desk girl asked me in a mean way” what?” “ what are you saying”? With annoying high school mean girl face. And when we paid with cash, she supposed to give us 2.39 dollars back but she only gave 2 dollars and keep the rest for her tips without asking When I already don’t want to tip her. And it is a take out. I do not care about the 0.39 but just don’t want to tip her at all. I asked her to give the change, she said “ you want 39 cents back??” In a way laughing at me. I said yes. Then she said she doesn’t have any change. Which if she told me at the beginning I would understand, but just assumed all the change goes to her tips is rude. Very bad experience. Very bad service. Good vibe, food probably not bad but won’t...